, 1887-07-28
The Great Boat Race Between
Hanlan and Gaudauer
Proves to be Nothing Less Than
Simple Hippodrome.
A Crowd OF Dlsg usted and Dis
appointed Sightseers.

ULLMAN, ILL.,, July Z3.-frODaDly
the greatest tizzle of boat race ever
rowed in the west was rowed here this
afternoon in which Edward Hanlan
nominally defeated Jacob Gaudauer.
1t had been announced that the con-
test would be for the championship OF
America. $1,000 and to each of the
participants and slice OF the receipts
of the gate. In addition it was ex-
pected the result would definitely de-
eide whether Hanlan, whom many
people believed to be the worlds great
est oarsman, had virtually closed his
career. The race settled nothing and
was in no particular success, not
even in gate receipts. About 1900
people were present instead of 1000 or
10000 as was expected. Those who
staid away had cause to congratulate
themselves. the affair was characterized
by execrable management, to say
nothing of the suspicion that the race
itself partook of the nature of n
hippodrome. Like the last contest
between the two men to-day the race
was rowed under peculiar conditions.
Their race on decoration day was
rowed in the midst of binding rain
which prevented close watch being
kept. To-day they rowed in the dark
which prevented watching OF any
kind impossible. When Hanlan
finished in front OF the grand stand
Gaudauor was q quarter of mile away
out in the middle OF the lake. No one
on the shore could see him and rumors
of all kinds were prevalent, some
believing that he had been capsized
while others thought he had given up
and had been taken on board the press
boat.
Their fears proved to be unfounded,
however, and he soon pulled down the
channel to the boathouse. The race
had been advertised to take place be-
tween 2 and 6 o'clock, and people be-
gan to gather at 4 o'clock. There was
not over 1900 persons, however, but
they felt the keen northwest breeze,
and those who brought overcoats were
fortunate. Five, six, and seven o'clock
passed, aud there was no sign of the
contestants. People were by this time
disgusted and tired out. Notwith-
standing the water was not particu-
larly rough, Though u fresh north
west breeze was blowing. 1t was near
ly p. m. before the contestants made
their appearance. The delay was os-
tensibly due to a disagreement be-
tween the two oarsmen, Gaudauer
claiming that the articles of agreement
guaranteed him "smooth water" At
last when everybody was famished and
disgusted referee Harper declared he
would wait no longer and that If Gau-
dauer did not row the race would be
given to Hanlan. So finally they
started. At the outset Gaudauer took
the lead and was half length ahead
as long as the pair could be seen. They
had turned the stake were nearly half
way to the line before the wretched
tub provided as a press boat again al
lowed sight of either through the
darkness. Hanlan was then eight or
ten boat lengths ahead of Gaudauer,
who was astonshingly wide of the
course and kept on so. At this juno
ture Gaudauer spurted in wonderful
manner, which, it seemed, must have
won upon his course. He kept on
obliquely, however, finishing on about
equal terms with Hanlan, as near as
could be judged by his position in the
darkness, which was almost total. He
was disqualified by his position and
the race was given to Hanlan, who
finished in 2O:23. After the race st.
John, Gaudauer's hacker, said he told
the latter to go out and lose the race.
He could not afford to attempt to win
when the agreement was not complied
with. The water was so much in
favor OF Hanlan he would not have
allowed the race to be awarded to
Hanlan, only he wanted to satisfy the
people BY showing them something
for their money.